The 21-year-old’s exit from Naturena might have come as a blessing in disguise, thrusting him into the limelight and opening doors to regular football at a time when some Amakhosi youngsters have struggled for Premier Soccer League opportunities. His spell at TS Galaxy provided the platform he needed to rebuild momentum and showcase his talent away from the intense pressure of the Soweto giants. That progress has now earned him a move abroad, with the youngster sealing a switch to Major League Soccer outfit Chicago Fire FC.
The Soweto giants resume their group-stage campaign in this continental competition, aiming to secure their first win of the tournament phase. This marks their second trip outside South Africa after opening their campaign with a visit to Egypt. They now head to Zambia with a delegation that includes 22 players as they look to get their campaign back on track.
Amakhosi have signed just one player so far in the January transfer window, with the recruit arriving at Naturena on loan from Cape Town City and set to feature for the DStv Diski Challenge side. This means the Soweto giants are yet to make any new additions to their first-team squad despite the open window. A retired footballer has weighed in to outline what he believes should be Amakhosi’s key transfer priorities.
The Soweto giants have had a good run in the South African top-tier, where they are just two points from the top. The Glamour Boys are seen as a real force in the 2025/26 season thanks to the quality signings that they made at the beginning of the campaign. However, they have dropped points in matches they should be winning as the number of chances they create should result in more goals.
In a bid to allow some of their players to leave and get playtime, Bucs have released the two to their stars' league rivals. In the off-season transfer window, the Sea Robbers signed more than 10 players, and their strengthening mission has also continued in the mid-season window. With a huge playing squad, it is natural that some players will play more than others, and the fringe ones have been sent out on short-term deals.
After selling their prized asset, the Rockets managed a convincing win in their first game without the South African player. The attacker left the club and signed for Chicago Fire in the Major Soccer League, and his former team looked solid despite missing his vital services. The challenge for Galaxy now is whether they can keep the tempo or they will falter on the road and miss Dithejane's creativity in the final third.
In a bid to boost their prospect of finishing in the top eight bracket, the club is hoping to strengthen their squad in order to achieve their ambition. Among the players they want to bring on board is an attacker who was sharpened at the Bucs' academy. The need for a lethal attacking department has been made even more urgent after Puso Dithejane left.
Since he was a teenager, the forward showed the potential of developing into a top player. Now, just 21, after making his presence felt in the Premier Soccer League, the South African star is set for an entirely new challenge after signing for Chicago Fire. Even before he was signed by the Major Soccer League side, he was a subject of intense interest from PSL giants Amakhosi and Masandawana.
Following the strong statement by Amakhosi football manager Bobby Motaung in recent weeks that the Soweto side had no intentions of signing new players, the surprising announcement of Cape Town City player Xhosa Manyana joining the Naturena-based team raised eyebrows. However, the club has since come forward to explain the reason behind the new acquisition.
The Sea Robbers' bid to win the title gains momentum each matchday after they registered yet another victory that has seen them widen the gap with their closest rivals. Now on a four-match winning streak, the Bucs are motivated as they hope to dethrone current champions, Kaizer Chiefs. With another clean sheet and a convincing victory, the Buccaneers are sending a clear signal to the rivals that they mean business and anyone standing between them and the title can easily be swept aside.
One of the key components in any team setup is a competitive goalkeeping department. In most cases, the best, usually the most experienced one, is always the number one choice, and in the case of Bafana, Mamelodi Sundowns' captain has been the undisputed choice. With his age advancing and no young successor in the picture already, a goalkeeping problem for the national team has been predicted.
The Buccaneers have been making quality signings in the short January transfer window as the management and the technical team are working harder to ensure they have enough arsenal to challenge Mamelodi Sundowns and Co. for the Premier Soccer League title in the ongoing 2025/2026 campaign after going for more than a decade without one.
The Buccaneers are showing no intention of slowing down as they have made three signings in the short January transfer window, as they work on achieving their target of winning all the domestic competitions. Already, they have secured the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout, which happened before the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) break.
During the Premier Soccer League break, one of Amakhosi's top officials attended a vital summit for clubs. The summit offers club owners, sporting directors, scouts and agents, as well as data analysts, a chance to gather and talk solely about transfers. Top clubs from Europe, including the Premier League giants, are members, and the sole purpose of this body is to help teams to identify which players are available and also find out what other clubs are looking for.
The Premier Soccer League title winner left the top-flight side under unclear circumstances, and it looks like they have already secured his replacement. Under a former Amakhosi tactician, the club is pushing to finish in the top eight again, and to achieve that, they need a reliable midfield machine, which the incoming youngster promises to give.
The Glamour Boys and the Sea Robbers, just like the other Premier Soccer League teams, will have a month or so to strengthen their squads in their bid to achieve the set objectives in the ongoing 2025/26 campaign, both domestically and abroad. While Amakhosi continue rebuilding, the Buccaneers want to sustain their already impressive quality.
Bucs' key players dominate the Bafana squad that is in Morocco chasing the Africa Cup of Nations glory. Back home, the two Premier Soccer League giants have shown real intent of winning the league title at the halfway mark. The PSL title race is already taking shape, and when the competition resumes, no one will want to sleep and cede ground.
With mounting questions surrounding the capabilities of the Chiefs' co-coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze, and growing frustration among the Naturena faithful, the Soweto giants have once again found themselves at the centre of intense debate. Discontent continues to ripple through the fan base as uncertainty lingers over the team's direction, reigniting widespread discussions about who would be the right fit to take charge as head coach and steer the club back toward stability and success.
The Amakhosi youngster has been previously compared to Premier Soccer League legend Themba Zwane as well as Thembinkosi Lorch. Although he is tipped to become a key player for the Soweto giants, being played out of his natural position has been cited as impeding his development. Despite competition from more experienced rivals, he has been able to become a regular starter.
The Amakhosi player is considered one of the promising stars in the country, and he has now attracted interest from another Premier Soccer League rival. Given the competition from more experienced options at the club, the youngster has been unable to break into the first team, and a move to another top-flight outfit could give him the necessary exposure. With the January window set to open, eyes will be keen to see whether Chiefs will consider selling or loaning the star.
The two coaches continue to attract scrutiny as some question whether they are capable of leading the Soweto giants to success. Before the Africa Cup of Nations break, Chiefs had a chance to go level with Orlando Pirates point-wise, but they collected just two from a possible six, putting Kaze and Ben Youssef under more pressure. Angry for more titles, some have been calling for the Naturena outfit to consider the more experienced Mosimane, who is not with a club now.
The Sea Robbers have had quite an impressive Premier Soccer League campaign so far and rightfully top the standings. A coach who won the PSL title with Masandawana has warned that teams have cracked Bucs' success code and will frustrate them when the season resumes. The tactician has, however, pointed out that the Buccaneers have the capacity and ability to withstand the frustrations expected.
The Moroccan tactician is having a dream start at Pirates, as he has collected three trophies so far since the season began. Although the latest collection is not an official one, it matters a lot because it was won without key players and against a side that had a number of top players from PSL. Naturally, one would expect him to celebrate, but the former Marumo Gallants coach says his mind is focused on what is more important.
Chiefs have a lopsided squad that isn't gelling in the final third as 2025/26 approaches the halfway mark. Several players will be considering their futures during the upcoming January transfer window.
The former Morocco defender was captured in a moment of connection with his players after the Buccaneers beat Marumo Gallants 1-0 to win the Carling Knockout at Peter Mokaba Stadium last Sunday. The Soweto giants' coach sprinted on the pitch with his players in hot pursuit to shower him with champagne in celebration of their triumph and second major trophy of the season.
The Buccaneers were rewarded with their impressive domestic form as they produced nine players for Hugo Broos' South Africa, who will be in Morocco from December 21 to challenge for the continental glory. The 20-year-old defender who recently sealed a move to the Major League Soccer outfit Chicago Fire is convinced Bucs players will play a starring role for the national team at the tournament.
Marumo Gallants
